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In the tradition of Rudolf Steiner’s inner work according to the rhythm of each day of the week, today (Wednesday) is the day of “Right Standpoint”. It is this idea of ordering our lives with harmony. Put our lives in harmony with our values. Put our lives in harmony with nature. Put our lives in harmony, I would say, with God and the purpose God has set you here on earth for. (As a Christian, I see definite purposes for my life as laid out in the Bible and by the Early Church fathers). Life is one of the means, a tool, to our own inner development as a human being.

If this is important for us as adults to work on, how much more important is this for our children who are still developing? And, because our children are developing, it is up to us to help order their lives in these ways.

We can say no to media and screens because it is “entertainment” that is often full of sarcasm, violence, hypocrisy, and fills time instead of having our children learn to create and order their own time.

This world where 276 Nigerian girls are kidnapped out of their school and no government seems to be able to find them.

We live in a world where there can be the worst of humanity.
Wars.
Poverty.

Children with disabilities who are abandoned or neglected.

Children in our own society that we attempt to push through an educational system that is not geared to children.

We live in a world where everything seems to strive against families staying together and against children being connected to their families and their communities.

And then

I stand, on a beautiful biodynamic farm with the cows and chickens and bees and birds, looking at a sea of planted garlic in the sunshine…

And Organic Rose, the owner, says, “Isn’t all of this about loving each other? We love and nurture the Earth, we take care of Earth, we get food that is healing for the body, mind and soul. It is here that the Earth loves us…..And in turn we love and nourish each other within our families and communities.”

Yes, isn’t that the point?

And the only thing that will change this world is to let your own light shine. You may not be able to change something globally. But, we can change things for our own communities.

I am certain you have heard the story of the young lady and the starfish. A young lady was walking along the beach, picking up starfishes that had been brought in by the high tide and left behind as the tide went out. An old man watched her and then said incredulously, “You cannot possibly make a difference for all these starfish. There are just too many!” The young lady looked at him, picked up a starfish and threw it back in and said, “Well, I made a difference for that one!”

Human freedom comes with it to make choices out of love. What does love bring to you today?

I held this silent boy for sometime in my mind, carefully turning the situation over and over. I had judged the father, and I also had judged the son. In that moment, the boy taught me that all things are not what they seem. He reminded me we each have a path and our stories are not the same. Instead of passing judgment, I could have surrounded each person with love. How else can we find happiness if we cannot elevate the other? We must also look past our weaknesses, move forward, and enjoy this life fully by discovering our own grace. I can only strive to do the very best in each moment and that is all. Then I must remember that everyone else is doing the same. I have come to realize that life is about balance and grace, not perfection. We would succeed as parents if the lessons we offer our children were about acceptance, forgiveness, and love. I must promise them this.

How many times a day as mothers do we judge ourselves? Fill in the blank: “I am not (patient enough, strong enough, capable enough, smart enough, kind enough”, etc)”

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This is an amusing yet sobering piece written by an anonymous person about the stranger living in his home growing up. It is well- worth the short read.

The Stranger

A few years after I was born, my Dad met a stranger who was new to our small town. From the beginning, Dad was fascinated with this enchanting newcomer and soon invited him to live with our family. The stranger was quickly accepted and was around

from then on. As I grew up, I never questioned his place in my family. In my young mind, he had a special niche.

My parents were complementary instructors: Mom taught me good from evil, and Dad taught me to obey. But the stranger… he was our storyteller. He would keep us spellbound for hours on end with adventures, mysteries and comedies. If I wanted to know anything about Continue reading →

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This has been a season where the theme of freedom versus form has been coming up repeatedly in my life, and as usual, I took this as a sign that I should write about this subject for my readers.

During one of the first few weeks on her Yahoo Group for homeschool planning called “Sketching It Out” that in homeschooling, Lisa Boisvert Mackenzie wrote something to the effect that we have a freedom so different than what is found in the Waldorf schools in bringing the impulses of Waldorf Education to the home, but then we have to create the form. I have been mulling this thought around for several weeks now, where it has been germinating in my heart. I know from my own experiences in talking to so many mothers and families that creating the form seems to be the most challenging part for families not just in homeschooling, but in parenting.

I hear from many families who are interested in Waldorf homeschooling. I do think the home environment is much different than the Waldorf school environment; it is much like comparing oranges and grapefruit in a way. A Waldorf school and Waldorf homeschooling are related with Waldorf Schools giving us a model of the curriculum for the school environment but homeschooling has a different flavor!

It is also different because it is up to us, as homeschooling parents, to hold things – to really create that form for the day, the month and the year. Parents often become interested in Waldorf homeschooling because it is perceived as gentle, based in nature, the better-late-than-early category. It is those things, but there is more. We often hear how we take Waldorf homeschooling and what resonates about this with us and then it is Waldorf education. However, I think there is more than this.

Actually, I think there are five essential truths that should be worked with regarding Waldorf homeschooling. If you can get through these five things and feel like it resonates with you, then I think Waldorf homeschooling could be a success for you! Continue reading →

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The Parenting Passageway

Welcome to The Parenting Passageway

A passageway, as one would guess, is a conduit to the next thing: a way to allow movement from one place, condition or stage to the next. This blog is entitled “The Parenting Passageway” as it is intended to help support and encourage parents in peaceful parenting for our hectic world. Thank you for reading and many blessings to you

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